A court in Ivory Coast has ruled that opposition leader Tidjane Thiam cannot run in October’s presidential election. The judges said he is not eligible because he once held French citizenship, even though he later gave it up to qualify for the race.
Thiam strongly criticized the decision, calling it an “act of democratic vandalism, which will disenfranchise millions of voters”.
The ruling is a major setback for his party, the PDCI, which had just named him as its candidate. Many see the timing as suspicious, coming just as his campaign was gaining support.
Meanwhile, the ruling RHDP party has not yet announced who will run, but President Alassane Ouattara, who is 83, may try for a fourth term. Other well-known politicians, including former President Laurent Gbagbo, have also been blocked from running.
Thiam responded to the court’s decision by saying: “It’s no surprise that this court ruling comes as our support among voters continues to grow.
“After 15 years in power, RHDP leaders are running scared. They want to monopolise power rather than face the judgement of the electorate.”
Thiam has had an impressive career. He was the first Ivorian to get into France’s top engineering school, then returned home to serve as a government minister. After a coup in 1999, he left politics and became a successful banker, leading major companies like Credit Suisse.
Now, his disqualification has raised concerns about fairness in the upcoming election. With several opposition figures blocked from running, some worry the vote may not be seen as legitimate. The situation is being watched closely, both in Ivory Coast and internationally.
